LITMIR.BIZ

      The black clown

      Andrew Conradie

      He hides away in dark corners and only comes out at night

      Hidden far away from the world

      He keeps out of sight

      Around him he wraps the wet and the cold

      Slowly he creeps out to make sure the coast is clear

      One foot, then the next he walks alone through the empty streets

      Hiding his face in fear

      Resting deep within the hearts of teens

      The fear that appears within each and every one

      That little voice that tells you you’re not good enough

      The one that makes you want to scream: “I’m done!”

      It’s your turn to speak, clear your throat and take a cough

      Let’s colour in the darkness and laugh at it

      Let’s take control and learn to say no

      Pick up your wit

      Here we go

      We’re going to break down the doubt

      Take the bull by the horns

      Don’t hold back, shout

      No sorrows, no mourns

      This is your moment to shine

      This is your moment to grow

      1. As we grow up we all worry and have doubts and fears. This poem encourages youngsters to fight off these feelings and to grow to be the best they can be. Make a list of words and phrases in the poem that explains what this “black clown” represents.

      2. The poet speaks directly to teens, to the readers. Quote the pronouns that show us this.

      3. Who do you think the “we” of the poem are?

      4. What does the expression “take the bull by the horns” mean?

      5. Look at the following idiomatic expressions. Match each expression in column A to its correct meaning in column B.

      6. What does the poet say should replace the feelings of doubt and fear?

      The Fieldmouse

      Cecil Frances Alexander

      Where the acorn tumbles down,

      Where the ash tree sheds its berry,

      With your fur so soft and brown,

      With your eye so round and merry,

      Scarcely moving the long grass,

      Fieldmouse, I can see you pass.

      Little thing, in what dark den,

      Lie you all the winter sleeping?

      Till warm weather comes again,

      Then once more I see you peeping

      Round about the tall tree roots,

      Nibbling at their fallen fruits.

      Fieldmouse, fieldmouse, do not go,

      Where the farmer stacks his treasure,

      Find the nut that falls below,

      Eat the acorn at your pleasure,

      But you must not steal the grain

      He has stacked with so much pain.

      Make your hole where mosses spring,

      Underneath the tall oak’s shadow,

      Pretty, quiet harmless thing,

      Play about the sunny meadow.

      Keep away from corn and house,

      None will harm you, little mouse.

      1. Mice hibernate during the winter. Quote the line in stanza 2 to prove this.

      2. What is the farmer’s “treasure” in line 2, stanza 3?

      3. Why must the fieldmouse not eat the farmer’s grain?

      4. Where must the fieldmouse make its burrow?

      5. What warning does the poet give to the fieldmouse?

      6. Write down the rhyme scheme of the last stanza.

      Vocabulary

      acorn – fruit of the oak tree

      ash tree – kind of forest tree

      meadow – pasture or grassland for animals to graze on

      mosses – small plants growing on trees and rocks where it is moist

      The ozone layer

      Jeanne du Plessis

      The earth’s ozone layer

      Absorbs ultraviolet rays

      It helps to keep us safe

      From the sun’s scorching blaze

      But as you’ve probably heard

      It’s got several holes these days

      Now you’ve got to watch out

      For those harmful UV rays

      So slap on that sunscreen

      And whip on those shades

      To protect your skin and eyes

      From those nasty UV rays

      The earth’s ozone layer

      Takes care of me and you

      Don’t you think it’s time

      We took care of it too?

      Use ozone-friendly products

      And plant a few new trees

      To protect our ozone layer

      From chemicals and CFc/s.

      Rapunzel

      Fanie Viljoen

      Locked

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